JMIR Research Protocols

Pregnancy is a crucial stage characterized by an increased demand for various nutrients. The role of micronutrients becomes especially important during pregnancy and infancy to support neurodevelopment. Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries due to socio-economic disparities, limited dietary diversities, and barriers to quality antenatal care. This results in women of reproductive age and developing offspring being disproportionately affected. Despite extensive research, evidence remains fragmented, leading to a lack of comprehensive synthesis.

Increased appetite and weight gain are common adverse effects of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Concerns about appearance-related changes due to weight gain can reduce medication adherence. Moreover, the complex interplay among GCs, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and appetite can influence eating behaviors. Daily data collection using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and analysis of interrelations may help clarify these dynamics. Furthermore, real-time feedback based on daily eating behavior may help patients regulate appetite and eating patterns. Accordingly, we developed Mogu!☆Log, a smartphone-based application that enables daily self-reporting of eating behaviors, appetite, and mood, and provides graphical feedback on meal frequency and perceived control over eating.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to pancreatic tumorigenesis by activating the JAK–STAT3 signaling cascade. Targeting the IL-6/GP130/STAT3 axis may therefore represent a promising therapeutic approach for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Outdoor play is a fundamental part of childhood. Children’s participation in outdoor play connects them to nature and the land, and supports their role in the natural world. Early learning and child care (ELCC) centers provide opportunities for outdoor play; however, barriers toward the provision of outdoor play exist, including educator attitudes, policies and procedures, outdoor space limitations, and adverse weather conditions.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects two in five women in Canada, leading to both physical and mental health consequences. Safety planning is a secondary prevention intervention designed to assist those experiencing IPV to take steps to increase their safety and decrease contact with their abuser. Safety planning is shown to help survivors mitigate the negative mental health effects of IPV and encourage actions to increase safety, but evaluation outside the United States remains limited.

Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity (CIGT) is a common and distressing adverse effect in cancer care, manifesting as nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, oral mucositis, constipation, and diarrhea. These symptoms severely impair patients’ quality of life, reduce treatment adherence, and may lead to premature therapy discontinuation. Aromatherapy, a complementary therapy using plant-derived essential oils, has shown potential benefits for alleviating CIGT symptoms, but most existing systematic reviews focus solely on nausea and vomiting, leaving its effects on other CIGT symptoms understudied. Moreover, the influence of essential oil types, intervention forms, and intervention durations on therapeutic outcomes remains unclear.

Podcasts have emerged as a popular medium in medical education over the past decade. Audio learning allows flexibility and may help residents engage with content in new ways. Reading scientific literature is a core skill for residents, yet many residents struggle to comprehend complex research articles. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled the automatic generation of podcast-style summaries of documents. It remains unclear whether listening to AI-generated podcast summaries can match the educational value of reading the full text of medical papers, and whether this depends on the complexity of the article.

Chronic diseases represent a significant global burden, accounting for 85% of the total disease burden in Australia. This burden is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where chronic disease rates are higher, and access to health care services is more limited. Digital technology has the potential to address these disparities by overcoming challenges such as workforce shortages and geographic isolation.

Globally, around 800,000 people die by suicide annually, with 77% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Suicidal ideation, frequently observed among adolescents, is directly linked to suicide attempts. Pakistan has witnessed a marked escalation in suicide rates in recent years, with Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) reporting the highest incidence. Extensive research indicates that tailored suicide prevention strategies can mitigate suicidal ideation, attempts, and related fatalities.

Postpartum depression (PPD) rates in the United States are among the highest globally, and PPD can pose significant, long-term risks to families. Concurrently, perinatal cannabis use is increasing in prevalence and may exacerbate PPD. Although evidence links cannabis use with PPD, little is known about its impact on immediate depressive symptoms or depression trajectories across the perinatal period. Moreover, the potential impact of cannabis use on mother-child attachment, bonding, and emotional availability could intensify the effects of cannabis on PPD.

Postextraction ridge resorption compromises the aesthetics and function of the subsequent implant therapy or prosthetic rehabilitation. Several techniques are employed to reduce ridge resorption, ranging from basic socket fillers such as blood clot preservation to more advanced techniques using barrier membranes and bone grafts such as autografts, allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials.

The US cancer survivor population is projected to hit 26M by 2040. Chemotherapy is an effective cancer treatment, but can diminish cancer survivors’ quality of life—particularly cognitive function—through select pathophysiological processes, including immune system and antioxidant dysregulation. The resulting cytokine release can impair cerebrovascular function—likely contributing to chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI; “chemo-brain”). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)—a common cancer survivor comorbidity—shares underlying pathophysiology with CICI. Cancer survivors with T2DM might thus have a higher CICI risk than those without T2DM. Physical activity (PA) counteracts CICI’s and T2DM’s pathophysiology, but little to no research has been conducted assessing the impact of PA on this joint pathophysiology.